Sherman Alexie takes stand (quite funny)

Freelance writer, Sonics season ticket holder and Seattle literary figure Sherman Alexie is being questioned by City attorney Michelle Jensen, who makes her first appearance in the trial

It’s best here to list some of his hilarious and passionate quotes during his testimony:

Alexie said he became a Sonics fan when he moved to Seattle after being a longtime Lakers fan, “It was tragedy of Shakespearean proportions” for his father.

Alexie grew up in rural Eastern Washington and played basketball using a “Coffee can nailed to a pine tree,”

Quotes from Alexie, who is Native American:

“(There are) a lot more Black people at KeyArena (during games) than many more social settings,” he said.

*Called Yao Ming a “7-foot-8 God”

*In the NBA, the “Players are barely wearing any clothes”

*”(NBA basketball) is about physical accomplishment”

*”A thousand years from now people will be talking about LeBron James as they talk about Hercules now.”

When asked why he wants the NBA to remain in Seattle, “You are talking about excellence and I want to see the very best.”

*”It’s a diverse sport, the type of diversity that doesn’t exist anywhere else in Seattle.”

Being a season-ticket holder is like “being like a high roller in Vegas.”

Alexie begins rambling, leading PBC attorney Brad Keller to call for an objection, Keller said, “Your honor I think we need to get some questions in here.”

Alexie then describes the differences in being a season-ticket holder during Bennett’s reign and before. He tells of meeting players, shooting baskets on the KeyArena floor before games, winning better season ticket season lotteries and parking in the players parking lot for events.

Alexie then goes on to detail the distinct differences with Bennett and how during a season-ticket holders trip to the locker room that he and his sons were ignored by team staff.

*He also added that his sons were enamored with the “10-foot (high) shower heads” in the Sonics locker room

*Jensen presented the letter that the Sonics wrote to season-ticket holders delaying the sale of packages for the 2008-09 season because of the trial.

Alexie ended by saying he would follow the Sonics intently for the final two potential “lame duck” seasons, “I want two more years of the Greek Gods,” he said.